Sewing machine attachment



April 1955 L- MEISSLER 2,742,006

I SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed May 14, 1953 tfitecl States Patent SEWING MACHINE ATTACHIMENT Ludwig Meissler, Kaiserslautern, Germany, assignor to G. M. Pfalf A.-G., Kaiserslautern, Germany German corporation Application May 14, 1953, Serial No. 354,979 Claims priority, application Germany May 23, 1952 10 Claims. (Cl..112-66) The invention relates to sewing machines of the zigzag type, and relates more particularly to an attachment device, for sewing machines of the aforementioned character, for the purpose of carrying out circular stitching and hole stitching.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a removable attachment for sewing machines of the zigzag of parts which will be exemplified in a construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims. 7

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be best understood from the following description of exemplifications thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an attachment in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 1 but embodying a modification.

In carrying the invention into effect in the embodiments which have been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and for description in this specification, and referring now particularly to Figs. 1-3 there is pro vided an attachment device for making circular or hole stitches for use in connection with a zigzag type sewing machine. The attachment comprises a body that includes a top plate 1 which has a flat flange 2 and which is elevated or off-set upwardly throughout the area of the orbit of the flange 2. The elevated or inwardly'off-set portion comprises two sections, namely a higher section which is shown on the righthand side of Figs. 1 and 2, and a lower section which is 'shown in the lefthand part of Figs. 1 and 2. The higher section has a descent at 3 into the lower section. p

Below said top plate 1 there is mounted a guide 4 (Figs. 1 and 2) which extends below both elevated sections, and may be connected to the top plate 1, for instance by rivets as shown in Fig. 1. t

On the underside. of the flange 2 there is connected at base plate 5 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), which is juxtaposed throughout a portion of the higher elevated section of the top plate 1. i

As best shown in Fig. 1, a dial disc 6 is freely turnably connected to the underside of the higher section, for instance by means of a rivet 7, and that higher section is cut out at 8 for a portion sufiicient to exposev about onequarter of the border of the disc 6. The disc 6 has .on the upper surface near its border a series of. numbers ar- 2,742,006 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 ranged in sequence, and is provided with knurling or other finger-grasping means, and a marker 9 is provided on the higher section for registry with the numbers of the disc 6. The disc 6 has a spiral slot 25 disposed about the rivet center 7.. Thereby, turning of the disc 6 in clockwise direction will increase the radial distance between the rivet 7 and any follower that may be disposed in the slot 25, while, conversely, counterclockwise disc rotation will decrease that distance.

A'shifting lever 11 (Fig. 1) is pivoted to the base plate 5 at 10 below the disc 6. The lever 11 carries a slot follower pin 24 that protrudes through the spiral slot 25 of the disc 6 as well as through an arcuate slot 23 that is formed in the top plate 1 and which is concentric about the pin 10. Rotation of the 'disc 6 will thereby cause, owing to the spiral nature of the slot 25, a swinging movement of the lever 11 about "the pivot 10, and this movement is stepless. Turning of the disc in counterclockwise direction of Fig. I, will cause a rightward or clockwise swinging movement of the lever 11, and conversely, turning of the disc 6 in clockwise direction will cause a leftward or counterclockwise swinging movement of the lever v11. A braking lever 13 is pivoted at 12 to the plate 5 and extends with its long arm beyond the conlines of the flange 2 through a vertical slot (not shown in detail) of the higher section of the top plate 1 adjacent the flange 2 thereof. This brake lever 13 is rockable between two positions, and the movement of this lever is limited by two oppositely disposed stop edges 27. The

lever 13 is movable between a braking position shown in Fig; 1 wherein the long arm abuts against the righthand stop edge 27, and respectively, a release position wherein the long arm abuts against the lefthand stop edge 27.

A pin carrier 15 is shiftably arranged in the attachment device. It may either carry a pin 14 for an apertured textile material, for instance to protrude through a buttonhole of piece goods material, or a pointed pin (not shown) for piercing a piece of material that is not provided with holes. The carrier 15, as best shown in Fig. 2, is off-set and has an upper portion and a lower portion, both elongated; The upper portion of the carrier 15 protrudes through an elongated slot 16 that is formed in the lower section of the top plate 1, and extends outwardly beyond the flange 2 above the upper surface of the lower section, and has a righthand surface 17 for abutment with the righthand edge of the slot 16 in the extreme righthand position of the carrier 15, and has a lefthand surface 18. for abutment with the lefthand edge of the slot 16 and with the lefthand edge of an inner cutout of the guide 4 in the leftmost position of the carrier 15. The lower portion of the carrier 15, as best shown in Fig. 2, extends to. a point below the higher section of the top plate 1 and is provided with a pintle 19 which protrudes through a slot 22 of the higher elevated section. A needle guiding groove 20 is formed in the pin 14, and the upper portion of the carrier 15 has an elongated slit 21 for needle passage that extends from the groove 20. The length of the needle passing slit 21 is considerably in excess of the stitching, distance found on zigzag sewing, machines, and thereby is ample for the purpose of hole or circular stitching for all existing zigzag sewing machines.

The shifting lever 11 has, on its free end, a bent portion that carries a slot 26 through which there protrudes the pi'ntle 19 of the lower portion of the carrier 15. Thus, turning of the dial 6 will swing the lever 11 which, in turn, will shift the carrier 15.

The dimensioning of the slots 23, 22 and 16 and the slit 21 is so arranged that the lever 11 can shift the carrier 15 between a leftmost position (shown in Fig. 1) wherein the surface 18 is in abutment, and respectively, a rightmost-position wherein the surface 17 is in move- 3 ment-limiting abutment, while the needle may pass through the slit 21 in all these positions.

The free end of the brake lever 13 extends to a lateral edge of the lower portion of the carrier 15, to press thereagainst (as shown in Fig. 1), for frictional locking of the carrier 15. Clockwise movement of the brake lever 13 will release the frictional locking engagement with the carrier 15.

As best shown in Pig. 2, the carrier 15 in the leftmost position extends with its lower portion to a point short of the base plate 5. In this position it may be swung in a vertical plane by lifting of the upper section off the top plate 1 for subsequent removal of the carrier 15 off the attachment for interchange. The carrier 15 may be interchanged, for instance, for a carrier having a pin 14 of different diameter, or for a carrier with a pointed materialpiercing pin.

The stitching plate of the sewing machine is shown in broken lines in Fig. l and designated 23. The body of the attachment device shown in Figs. l3 may releasably be fastened to the sewing machine adjacent the stitching plate 23. For this purpose there are provided two leaves 23 and two abutment members 39 as well as a pin 31. The leaves 29 may be held in place by the shifting plate (not shown) that is found on sewing machines, and the abutment members 3%) will abut against the stitching plate 28, and the pin 31 cooperate with an aperture in said plate 28. in this manner, the attachment is releasably secured on the working table of the sewing machine.

The operation of the above-described embodiment is as follows.

The attachment device is releasably fastened to the sewing machine by means of the leaves 29, the abutment members 36 and the pin 31. If interchange of the carrier 15 is necessary, it is put in the leftmost position and swung in the vertical plane to be removed and subsequently to be interchanged for another proper carrier.

Thereafter, the operator will turn the dial disc 6 until the desired number that is formed on the border of the disc 6 is in registry with the marker 9. This turning will cause a rotation of the spiral 25 about the rivet 7. Turning of the spiral slot 25 will cause a swinging movement to the right of the shifting lever 11, owing to the pin 24 that is connected to the lever 11 and which projects through the spiral slot 25 and through the peripheral slot 23. As the slot 26 of the lever 11 engages the pintle 19 of the carrier 15, the swinging movement of the lever 11 will cause a shift of the carrier 15. By this shift the distance of the pin 14 from the stitching needle of the sewing machine is adjusted, and circles with thus predetermined size of diameter may be stitched on the machine.

When the proper number on the disc 6 has been brought into registry with the marker 9 and thereby the carrier 15 has been brought to the desired position, the carrier 15 may be locked in that position by counterclockwise movement of the brake lever 13 from the rest position thereof to the brake position shown in Fig. 1.

The modification shown in Fig. 4 differs from that of the previous views mainly in the means for fastening of the attachment device to the sewing machine. There are provided two pins 32 and a lateral leaf spring 33. The pins 32 protrude into corresponding holes of the stitching plate 28, and the leaf spring 33 engages a corresponding element of the sewing machine operating table. This permits a rapid fastening to, and releasing from, the operating table.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the novel principles of the invention disclosed herein in connection with specific exemplifications thereof will suggest various other modifications and applications of the same. It is accordingly desired that in construing the breadth of the appended claims they shall not be limited to the specific exemplifications of the invention described herein.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a hole and circular stitching attachment device, for use in connection with a sewing machine of the zigzag type having an operating table and a needle, in combination, a body comprising a top plate being recessed upwardly and having a longitudinal slot, 21 shiftable pin carrier comprising an elongated lower portion disposed below said top plate and an upper extension protruding through said slot and extending longitudinally outwardly from said slot above said top plate, said carrier having opposite abutment surfaces for alternate impact with an end edge of said slot to define two extreme shifting positions of said carrier, means operable for shifting said carrier adjustably to position the same between said extreme positions, and means actuable for releasably fastening said body to said operating table.

2. in a device as claimed in claim 1, said upper portion of said carrier having an elongated slit extending to said pin, said slit having a length in excess of the stitching distance of a normal zigzag sewing machine whereby in all positions of said carrier said slit will be in registry with the path of said needle, and said slit being arranged to pass said needle.

3. In a device as claimed in claim 1, together with, a base plate connected to said top plate and extending opposite thereto throughout a portion thereof and terminating short of the end of said lower portion of said carrier when said carrier is in one extreme position, whereby said carrier may be tilted for removal through said longitudinal slot.

4. In a device as claimed in claim 1, together with, said carrier having on its lower portion a longitudinal edge, brake means for said carrier comprising a lever pivoted to said body and having an arm extending to the body exterior and having a second arm extending adjacent the longitudinal edge of said carrier, said brake lever being shiftable about said pivot between a braking position wherein said second arm frictionally engages said longitudinal edge of said carrier and, respectively, a release position wherein said second arm is spaced from said longitudinal edge.

5. In a device as claimed in claim 1, together with, said lower portion of said carrier including a pintle, and said shifting means comprising a lever pivoted to said body for movement arcuately about the pivot center and engaging said pintle and being rockable about said pivot for shifting said carrier.

6. In a device, as claimed in claim 1, said shifting means comprising a dial disc freely rotatably journalled relative to said upper plate and having an eccentric arenate slot, an oppositely swingable shifting lever in driving connection with said carrier and comprising a slot follower disposed in said arcuate slot, whereby when said disc is turned said shifting lever will be swung about its pivot to shift said carrier.

7. In a device, as claimed in claim 6, said eccentric arcuate slot being in spiral form about the axis of rotation of said disc whereby when said disc is turned said slot follower will be moved to, and respectively from, said axis depending on the direction of rotation of said disc.

8. In a device, as claimed in claim 6, together with, said disc comprising means on its outer circumference to facilitate manual turning of the disc.

9. In a device, as claimed in claim 6, together with, indicia and an indicator apportioned between said disc and a part of said top plate adjacent said disc for predetermining the angular positioning of said disc and thereby the positioning of said carrier.

10. In a hole and circular stitching attachment device, for use in connection with a sewing machine of the zigzag type having a needle and having an operating table including a fixed stitching plate, in combination, said stitching plate having an aperture, a slotted housing re- 5 v movably positionable on said stitching plate and including a shiftable pin carrier having an extension protruding through said slot, a pin secured to said extension and having a groove extending parallel of the needle path when the housing is positioned on the stitching plate, said extension having an elongated slit for needle passage extending to said groove of said pin, means disposed in said housing and operable for selectively adjusting the position of said pin carrier, means disposed in said housing operable for locking said pin carrier in any of said adjusted positions, a pin having a cross-section matching the outline of said aperture connected to said housing and extending downwardly from said housing and operable 6 to engage said aperture to locate said housing accurately on said stitching plate relative to the needle path, and means for releasably fastening said housing relative to said stitching plate when said housing is positioned on said stitching plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Nov. 12, 1934 

